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Some Ramblings...

I write a small, bi-weekly column for our local Tidbits newspaper, and this week I decided to write about the topic of "greatness" and how elusive the feeling of being successful is. It's something I've been thinking about for a long time.

When I first started my blog, I kept praying that it would turn into something big, something great. I wasn't sure what I wanted it to be, just successful. And then after a few months I had 200 followers! I couldn't believe it. In my mind, I had hit the big time. When I posted about how excited I was, Heather from Dollar Store Crafts said "It won't be long until you have 2,000!". Of course I knew she was just being polite...who could ever have 2,000 followers??

At that time I felt that if I had 2,000 followers that I would be on top of the world. I would feel so important. How could anyone not, after all? But 8,000 followers later, I feel appreciative, but not successful. When I started blogging I would have thought that being in a magazine would feel so incredible, like I was famous! It does feel wonderful, but I certainly don't feel famous. Or any more important or great.

No matter what I do, someone will have done it before. No matter how much traffic my blog gets, someone else will have more. So I started wondering if I would ever really get to that feeling of successfulness. Will I ever feel like I've done something "great"? Will I if I write a book? If I'm on TV? What's it going to take?

None of those things.

I've discovered that blogging can't make me feel important. Nor being "famous" or "successful". Those are all good things, but they don't fulfill a person. They don't make us important. I think what makes us important is being a truly loving person. A goal more lofty (and sometimes more difficult to achieve) than any other I can think of. Practicing humility and serving others, doing small, unimportant things for big and important reasons. That's what makes me feel successful. That's what makes me feel like I've done my best, like I'm really becoming something "great".

....so....

I just wanted to put that out there, I guess.
Thanks for putting up with my volcano of words. :o)

Have a "great" weekend! :o)
love,
Disney

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Comments

Well said! I think being a wife and mother are two very rewarding jobs that allow me to in your words do "small and unimportant things for big important reasons." I think each of us would love to be "famous" in some little way, but in the end that is not what matters. What matters is the kind of person we have become inside. Hopefully a charitable, kind, selfless person who puts others first. Thanks again! Good things to think about!

Yes. This exactly. I read a post from one of my favorite bloggers (besides you, of course), and she wrote that being nice to others and caring about others is what counts in the end. I believe in the same principles and values and characteristics. Thank you for being you. Thank you for sharing your world. I appreciate the time you take in giving to us, your online community. Blessings.

I gather from things you have posted you are a believer..if I am wrong...excuse me for assuming :) But reading this made me think of two things 1. Psalm 18:35 "You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." Another translation says, your 'gentleness makes me great." You are exactly right. The last shall be first. Serving others brings so much more meaning. 2. Of a song that came out recently that's all about whether we just picked up toys off the floor for the 15th time today...or we are off to an important meeting in a suit and tie...we do everything we do to the glory of the One Who made us. :) It is He who makes us great...whether we are washing dishes or updating our blog with thousands of followers. It's all for Him. :)

Thank you for this. I've been blogging for a year and have 19 followers. I try to do things, and I never feel "successful." But I know Jesus and I try to shine His light in this world. That is more important than being "successful."

It's true, our worth is not at all dependent on what we do, how much we accomplish, or how many people. I've really struggled to wrap my head around that concept, but at the end of the day, it's very freeing. I don't have to be the most well educated, well known, or well liked person in the world, I just have to be a good person in my own life and that is just as good as what anybody else is doing. :)

Disney, when you wrote about us we had four followers. Four really awesome followers. I think you were somewhere in the 600s. I thought "wow, how could we ever be that 'big'?" But as many followers as we have now, while I'm grateful that there are folks that want to read... blogging is the same. Fun to share what we're working on, but the numbers aren't success. Feeling good about what we're sharing, no matter whether anyone actually reads it... is the reward.

What a great post. :) I think everybody is guilty of comparing sometimes, especially bloggers who are constantly seeing others who are doing similar things but are "more successful, have more of this or that, seem more talented," etc, etc. But we're all very great, so keep up your awesomeness. :)

Reading this made me think of when Jesus said whoever wants to be the greatest must become the least. And one of the 'lowliest' places is a place of servitude. I've been thinking of this a lot lately in regards to being a mom. It truly is one of the most servant oriented callings ever, constantly giving of ourselves, sacrificing for the needs of others. It gets overwhelming, and exhausting, but at the same time is so incredibly rewarding. Especially when you begin to see the hard work and effort you've poured into your children take root....amazing! So, thanks for your post today. It certainly is a great reminder!! And you, my dear, are a beautiful person, I'm so blessed to read your blog!:)

I think you're successful. I LOVE your blog! And, if we want to be great, we're supposed to be the servant of all...I don't know any job more suited to that than being a mom (and a pastor's wife for that matter!).

By doing the will of God --being a loving wife and mother-- you are making a beautiful art out of homemaking. That is success in it's own right, as you've shown so many the wonder of being that wife and mother. I've never met you, I StumbleUpon-ed your blog, but I have found your entries to be the kindness I need sometimes when college is tough. And to have a clear Godly influence in my life is a wonderful thing, too. If you can, try to do this because you love it, and I can tell you do. If it's a spiritual gift, and I think that hospitality, communication, and art are talents of yours, then you're on the right track.

Anyway, I hope this wasn't too rambly, (not getting enough sleep at school right now! Too much hw...) but I just wanted to convey what a wonderful thing your blog is. Thank you, Disney!

I love blogging, but it does make me struggle with the "good enoughs." after almost 3 years, my blog hasn't really taken off, and it's so easy for me to feel like my ideas, photos, personality just aren't good enough. Sometimes I think about quiting, but my family and a few good friends really do like knowing what I'm up to. I need to take a page from your book and focus on blogging because it makes me happy and it keeps me connected with a few wonderful people. I need to stop worrying about comments and followers and all the "good enoughs" that can so easily take something good and turn it into something full of envy. Thank you for the reminder about what really matters!

Thank you for this! I just started my blog a bit ago. I keep looking at those numbers as my rating of my success. I know in my head that isn't the real success. But, sometimes you need a reset. Thanks for the reset! And by the way, your blog is a success... because YOU are a success!! Blessings!

Thanks for the words Disney. It would be great to have a lot of followers and subscribers. It would be awesome to actually get paid for all the hard work we pour into our blogs. But I must always remind myself that people and real relationships are much more important that having the praise from people who like my blog. I guess I could have both. Anyways, thanks for the encouragement. You are the one who inspired me to start sewing and to start a blog. I love love love my blog. Thank you!

It's nice to take a break from all the 'trying' sometimes! Doing something fun, and motivated by love is so freeing (I was just blogging about this too!). And if this is how you measure your success, I think your blog is 'making it'! It's fun and full of love. Well done :-)

This is why I love your blog so much: I always feel like I'm reading about what is important to you, not what you think is important in order to get more attention. you stay true to yourself and to what you believe - and by doing so, you help me to do the same. Have a blessed weekend!Julia

This is so true! I feel that the blogging world can get catty (which is frivolous) and the bottom line is that you have to separate yourself from your blog and find something else to fulfill that feeling of greatness. You are inspiring <3 Thank you :]

Thank you, I have found myself feeling emotionally drained. Having 4 kids is taking its toll and your words put it back into perspective for me. It really is unimportant things for really important reasons.

To be so young and understand what true greatness is, is a mark of greatness itself. Your wisdom to date exceeds the wisdom of many who exceed you in years. As the Scripture says, the first shall be last and the last shall be first and if a man wants to be lifted up (implied: by God) let him humble himself. And elsewhere the Scripture says 'he who will be great, let him be least among you'.

Truth--you have spoken it well dear girl, and sharing it here with your followers makes you a star in my book.

Disney,I ready your blog for two reasons. The first is for the wonderful things you create but mostly because you come across as such a positive, loving, and happy person. This was a great post and so important to be reminded of. Keep up the good work!Jaime

Our sermon today was Luke22:24-30 Jesus and True Greatness. What great timing of your post. Aspire to greatness through service. Jesus came to serve, not be served. Disney, thank you for your generosity and sharing your talents through serving through this blog, and for making a difference. I hope you find joy in giving and know that is success! God loved the world and He gave.

Ah Disney, you have such a good heart and this post is really convicting to me! My blog is not nearly as popular as yours, but I share all the same feelings. And then sometimes I remember that God doesn't care about how successful my blog is and when His Son was here he was not really popular at all and look how many people he reached. Thanks for blogging.

I really love this post Disney, it's nice to know we all have these moments and thoughts. My blog is itty-bitty, but it makes me happy and that's what counts. You are completely on point with your sentence about humility and service. Thanks for sharing, such a refreshing read!

You remind me of Mother Teresa's quote, "Don't look for big things. Do small things with great love." Disney, without you ever writing this post, I know this about you. Your sweetness, servant's heart, and humility make you shine like the stars to me (and, if I may be so bold, to God as well!).

Love you, your sweet pictures, and the feeling of purity and love I get when I rest at your blog!Trish

Disney, I'm having a breakfast/devotional at my house this Saturday and I was praying about what to speak on ... and then I read your post! I think I'm going to read this on Saturday! I'm excited because we are members of the same church and I just love knowing that! :) ~Pidge

you couldn't have said it better! its funny cause sophie and i were just talking about how excited we were when 8 people were following us and we just broke 1000... and you are right, it doesn't really feel any different! we still kind of feel like nobodies and quite frankly it doesn't bother us, when you start to believe you are more important than you are, your blogging reflects that, and in turn your readers will notice and forget why they liked you in the first place! you are an amazing blogger and, i feel, an even more amazing person... we love you because you are always true to you!MWAH!~selina